The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-10
TWISTERS OF ELASTIC LAW
Personal Gossip About Men Whose
Names Appear in Court Records.
The Special Lines Of Law Business in Which
They Have Distinguished Themselves
characteristics Of Some Of Them.

Tn the rourt-rolls about ons-third of the $50
lawyers OF tho Indianapolis bar appear fire.
quently, while another third haze now and
then to give them prominence These, with
the Others who rarely figure in courts, add to
their incomes by conducting Office business.
Cases Of great Importance have not
of late years been numerous, but
there are enough in the of
year 10 prevent the hest oratorieal talent OF
the advocate from rusting. The pleader and
counselor OF welI-known position always have
work to do. tt would be hard not to find on any
dag, In the Offices OF leading attorneys facts. il
they could be used. that would fill column of
rnnance and interest But lawyers
cretive as the confessional and 1t is only when
their issues come for trial before judge or jury
that the public reach the secrets of many a com
nnercial transaction or family affair. The Indi-
annapolis bar will compare most favorsbly with
that Of any other city. Not only is its distinc-
tion acc aired by the work and talent of it's older
memSsrs, bur much ia due TO the younger gen
GRAFTON, or those who have been in practice
twelve years or less.
Beginning with the more prominent firms, that
OF Harrison. Miller and Elan. perhaps, shares
most OF the Important cases, with two or three
OLQef
able attorneys is a statesman to whom the high
est giss of the Nation Ia not improbable re-
ward for his talent in the near future W. H.
III. Miller, the second member, is regarded as
one Of the ablest advocates at the bar, his mind
analytical, his oratory forcible, and his conclu-
sions always logical Mr. Elan is graduate
Of the law school of Butler University, and as
had an active practice Of twelve or fourteen
n4n.sa. At one time he was a very successful
comfy prosecutor, but since then it is only at
rare periods he appears in criminal cases. The
firms yearly income is large. for the cases that
come 70 it involve questions relating to large
propertss or commercial interests.
No law firm in indianapolis is probably more
widely known than that of Mcdonald, Butler 81
Mason Their business Is chiefly ia the higher
courts and Mr. Mcdonald spends much of his
Zine in Washington attending to cases pending
10 the United States Supreme Court There are
lew eases of portance in the federal court that
the arm does not represent one side Of and this
aeems 20 be q branch OF the business that Mr..
Butler looks after chiefly, for his face is quite
familiar to frequenters of the courtroom as that
Of Judge Woods himself. Mr.. Butler is the
typical lawyer. He ia wonderfully logical,
nnyieIdingy aggressive and irresistibly per-
sistens There Is point in
case that escapes him. The junior
member OF the firm. Mr.. A L. Mason, is, IN
learning, ability and prominence, further beyond
his years. dou brless. than any other young law
yer in the State He graduated from Asbury
University-now De Pauw-fve or six years ago
With the highest honors, and, in the beginning
Of his career a. a lawyer. gave evidence of such
uncommon ability that Mcdonald & Butler Of
fered 10 take him into the drm as a partner. He
iA ambitious and 10 hard worker. In the odd
moments OF his law studies, after be graduated
from college, be wrote a large v9aRme, entitled
" 1.-THE Romauce and Tragedy ofNRioneer Life"
@s..kich has had large sale.
Baker. Hord Il Hendricks Is one or the most
prominent firms in the West. and it has
fional reputation and its practice extends to the
bars Of other cities and to the Supreme Court OF
9s United States. l. was IN this firm that the
fate<V Vice president Hendricks held interest.
fIts bnsirsss is largely with railroads and other
Harrin.& CalAins also has O wide clientage
among corr orations. 1t il among the first at the
bar with al income that places both gentlemen
on o atronK-Gqancial footing
M Peele q Taylor control fine business. They
often appear in 9he courts In the control OF i'm
portart cases. The I-pior member Is young,
but his abilities hare pressed him TO the front
rapidly. The senior is an ex-congressman,
while Mr. Taylor holds the lucrative and
sponsible Office Of city attorney.
Twelve years ago there came to Indianapolis
from Iowa John l. Grifiths- He began to read
law under the instruction OF Major Jonathan
w. Gordon. In the Office another student,
Alfred r. Potts. The young men socially and
professionally were much together, and when
the period Of their tuition expired they formed
lnw partnership Through their tutors infiu-
once they had the good luck to make themselves
known through several important criminal cases.
IL 10 seldom that the firm takes one now for it
has a strong clentage among business men.
Mr.. Grifiths is looked upon one of the best
orators At the bar, and az advocate his part
has also high rank for one of his experience
They making money, for the class OF cases
they desire are those that pay well.
Caleb S. Denny, the Mayor. has. within
twenty years, advanced TO the possession of a
comfortable income through his legal practice.
His Official du ties now require a great deal OF
his time, but MS partner. w. F. Elliott. attends
to the law Office work, and IL 10 not infreQuent
for both TO appear in some case of significance.
MorrfE & NewberRer is another firm that
prosperity attends. Day after day their firm
name ~ added TO the court dockets as the at
torneys in some criminal case, involving at
shines several thousand dollars. Morris Sc New
berger acquire great deal OF business through
and their clients In all the
large cities of the West that have constant bust
ness relations with indianapolis.
Duncan, Smith g. Wilson have a large mis-
business. Their abilities we'll adj
1nsred for this kind of practice. John s. Dun
can attends TO tho criminal branch. but then
only when matter of more than ordinary inter
est attends the case. Charles w. Smith divides |
his time between the courts and the Office bust
ness. he Is good speaker. John r. Wilson
attends 10 the equity practice. In this branch
no is regarded of the best read lawyers |
10 the city. Their income runs up into the sew
erAl thousands
Ritter & Ritter do n good general business.
Capt Eli Ritter did much to bring the election
conspirasors 70 indictment He studied the
Of that case with a clearness and earn
estness that has put the government in posses
sion Of all the facts attending the crime.
john AL Judah. OF Judah e. Jameson, has a |
clientage for corporations and
pAnies- He does alarge office business, although |
his court cases are not as raany those of other
nrms Of equal standing
Fsrdina and Winter is often spoken of as the
student lawyer. His cases are many and bring
him good fees. though mis- income is regarded
ns large rs those of other lawyers who have
bis peculiar abilities. He is searcher after
truth and persistent in making every detail. no
how trivial il may be, bear bis case.
After he has prepared his pleadings il would be
Sifffeult Tor an opponent to find flaw in them
Byuum a. Beck do not attain much promi-
hence in the courts. but they have AT excellent